12th – 14th January

After a lazy day in Cusco the previous day where we said reluctant goodbyes to the Speedy Llamas, did laundry and generally chilled out, we got the 6.30am Inka Express bus to Puno. Along the way we stopped at various Inca sites including Andahuaylillas, Huaro and Canincuna both feeling a little guilty that we are now ‘ruined out’ having been spoilt the previous week. Arrived at Puno at 5, booked into our hotel off the main Plaza de Armas and met up with Andy and Ash (a couple we met on the Inca Trail) for dinner. Pisco sours all round followed by Peruvian food (steak Saltado again for Jason to keep up his daily diet of this dish).

The next day (our only full day in Puno) started with a visit to Lake Titicaca which at 3,830m above sea level is the highest navigable lake in the world.

 

The people of Lake Titicaca live on the water from Islands made from reeds. We visited the islands of Uros where we got a demonstration of how the islands are made by from the lakes resources and a visit into a locals house which was very basic but soon doubled up as a shop as the lady tried to sell us some hand made crafts – we made our excuses and left!

We left the island in a hand made reed boat to the next island where Charlie, Ash and Andy (who is stalking who here?!) started early on the beers before heading back to Puno for lunch on the main Lima steer (Punos equivalent to Oxford street but about 50 metres in length) followed by a walk round the square.

Tomorrow we are off to Bolivia and are sad to be leaving Peru behind having had a great time in this beautiful country.